Association between adherence to Saudi healthy plate dietary guidelines and physical activity, muscular endurance, and body composition among adult gym users

Abstract

Many gym users prioritize nutritional supplementation and dietary restriction over following the dietary guidelines that is necessary for optimal health to promote physical performance. This study aimed to assess the adherence of male and female gym attendees in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, to the Saudi Healthy Plate Dietary Guidelines (SHPDGs) in relation to physical activity, muscular endurance, and body composition. This study is cross-sectional design involved 268 regular users of Makkah gyms aged 18 years or older (129 males [48.1%] and 139 females [51.9%]). An electronical questionnaire was used from November 2024 to April 2025 to collect information on demographics, adherence to the SHPDGs, and physical activity levels. Muscular endurance was assessed via a standardized push-up test. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody). The study found that 12.7% of participants had low adherence to the SHPDGs, 74.3% of participants had moderate adherence, and 13.1% of participants had high adherence. Males showed significantly greater adherence to healthy dietary patterns, higher physical activity levels, and higher muscular endurance than females ( p  < 0.001). SHPDG adherence was associated with a significant reduction in fat mass ( p  = 0.007) and increases in muscle mass ( p  < 0.001) and total body water ( p  = 0.022). Higher adherence to the SHPDGs enhanced physical activity and upper-body endurance ( p  < 0.001 and p  = 0.029, respectively). Adherence to the SHPDGs was linked to improved physical activity levels, body composition, and muscular endurance. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting balanced nutrition among gym users to support physical performance and overall health.